Pages

What You Should Eat Before Going To the Gym*

*This is a collaborative post*

Grabbing a bite
before hitting the gym has its fair share of benefits. Regardless of the kind
of workout you will be doing, eating healthy and power inducing foods can give
you just the right amount of energy to do the best workout. Your diet is a
crucial aid to your workout and what you eat can make or break the results of
the sweat you break in the gym.

You have to be
cautious about both what you eat and how much you eat. Here are seven things
you should eat before going to the gym:

1.Banana

Bananas are rich in
potassium and just one serving can provide with 23% of the daily intake
required for a balanced diet. Potassium enriches cells and tissues in the body.
Bananas also contain decent amounts of digestible carbohydrates. These
carbohydrates are just enough to provide the necessary energy to endure a tough
workout.

This fruit is one of
those that are available fresh all year. It is especially great for those who
are just starting out with an exercise program. Also, if you work out in the
morning before breakfast, then this is exactly what you need to eat.

2.Oats

Your cabinets should
be full of oats if you are trying to lose weight and working out for that. Oats
can be an energizing snack for the pre-exercise period. These help in the
discharge of carbohydrates in your body which in turn facilitates your
movements. They are also rich in fibre and protein, and if you would like to
make it even better, have it with almond or soy milk.

The day you think
about challenging yourself, make sure to eat a bowl of oatmeal. Whether you are
lifting or doing cardio at the gym, you need a steady flow of energy to achieve
your desired results. You can find dozens of tasty recipes for oats online.

3.Egg Whites

If you are working on
increasing muscle mass, egg whites might just be the best pre-workout food. The
yolks are heavy on fat, but the whites are not. Whichever way you prefer, eat
at least one egg white. You will get around 4 grams of protein, which is good
enough to facilitate some heavy resistance training.

4.Fruit Smoothies

If you are one of
those people who are always up for having something delicious, fruit smoothies
are for you. Not only are they a delight to drink, but they are also super easy
and quick to make. The amount of sugar you will get from these drinks will
provide energy for a thorough workout.

One more advantage
with smoothies is playing around with different ingredients. You can combine
different fruits to drink something different now and then. If you like to add
yoghurt to your smoothies, go with Greek yoghurt. It is incredibly rich in
protein and is low in sugar, unlike regular yoghurt.

5.Whole Grain Toast

Whole grain bread
contains fibres and does not hinder your exercise unlike bread made from
processed starch. Why is it good for eating before heading to the gym? It
provides a constant release of energy which is very beneficial for an average
30-60 minutes workout session.

Just like smoothies,
toast can be diversified regarding taste. You can put different jams or peanut
butter on it, although peanut butter is the best as it contains protein and
potassium. You can also put sliced fruits like bananas, strawberries, etc on
top of it.

6.Dried Fruits

If you are in quite a
hurry to get to the gym, the best thing to eat would be dried fruits. Quarter
to half a cup of dried apricots, berries, or pineapples should be more than
enough. These contain simple carbohydrates that can provide an instant boost of
energy.

If you head to the
gym right after work or school, you can keep these in your bag and eat on your
way there. They are pretty light and should ideally be consumed a few minutes
before workout.

7.Supplements

Besides protein foods
and fruits, supplements can fill up your body with nutrients and energy. They
can ultimately give you your full potential of running, cycling, lifting,
whatever that you take up in the gym. Protein powder and creatine supplement
can be taken 15 to 30 minutes before workout. Besides the energy release, these
will also aid muscle recovery.

For intense
movements, your body requires amino acids, which you can take via supplements.
However, avoid muscle building steroids for this purpose as there
are proven side-effects. Perhaps they will speed up your gains, but at the
expense of your overall health.

We all have different
bodies and steroids can react differently. You may feel great during the
workout, but you may also suffer from stress, anxiety, insomnia or excessive
perspiration post-workout.

There is a common
myth, especially among those trying to shed some weight that not eating at all
and working out with an empty stomach will cause an increased fat burn. That is
not entirely true as you need the energy to move and do exercise. If you do not
have the energy to work out, you will not burn calories to reach your desired
weight.

Similarly, in the
case of muscle gain exercising with an empty stomach might exhaust your body
and disrupt your lifting. So make sure to eat something healthy a little before
heading to the gym.*Image source Shutterstock

Photo by Justine Machin. Interview with Author of 'All The Bright Places' Jennifer Niven. Part Two. So last...

B&M Ambassador

Nominated for:

Blog Archive

Total Pageviews

Advertisers:

With as much traveling as I do, I’m always looking for a way to stay at a nice hotel without paying too much. I’ve learned that I can rent or buy a timeshare resale online at huge discounts. Renting is the way to go to avoid a timeshare mortgage cancellation later with the help of a timeshare exit company like timeshare freedom group.